Study reveals huge U.S. oil-shale field

[TX-RAT]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002463368_oilstudy01.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Uh-oh There goes the neighborhood.

[MadHound]

2. That's nice and all, but rather than resorting to high priced oil

That requires almost as much energy to extract the oil as the energy it produces, along with destroying the surrounding enviroment getting the shale out of the ground, why not switch to clean, renewable alternatives like wind energy, diesel hybrids, and biodiesel.

This is just another sign that Peak Oil has occurred, and we're on the downhill slope.

[LaPera]

6. Government subsidies (corporate welfare w/ our tax $$$) will make it

profitable all the way around for the oil companies, as we will continue to pay the high gas prices and the tonic clean-up and pollution cost...

OH YEAH, "IT WILL HELP STOP OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL"

Where have we heard that before?

[ClintonTyree]

3. See, there's no need for alternative fuels.........

after we've sucked the Middle East dry we'll start on this! It will most certainly be an environmental disaster, but we'll have plenty of fuel for our Hummers and Jet Skis! We just have to get our priorities straight, that's all. :sarcasm:

[MADem]

4. I love this "reveals" shit

Everyone knows that there are shale fields and weakass wells all over the place. It's just that the cost of extraction was always greater than the profit. Now that the price of a barrel is through the roof, a lot of these once unprofitable assets are getting a second look.

[TX-RAT]

10. yep

[dipsydoodle]

5. Sounds to me

like an environmental nightmare.

[ramapo]

7. Can't get any uglier....

The process for extracting oil from shale makes current coal mining techniques, which destroy whole landscapes, look environmentally friendly.

Then there's the question of whether or not there is even a net energy gain.

This is bad, bad stuff....

[NickB79]

8. Nice, it's in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming

The process of oil shale extraction requires huge amounts of water and natural gas to extract the oil. The natural gas is needed to cook the oil out of the rock, and the water is required to flush the cooked oil out.

Natural gas supplies in North America are already starting to decline, and water is in short supply in the US Southwest, such as Utah. Good luck extracting that oil anytime soon.

[OneBlueSky]

9. won't going after shale oil in a big way result in the same . . .

kind of thing that happened to West Virginia with coal? . . . not a pretty sight, to be sure . . .